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Show Special Olympics flooding campus UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Page 17 Logan, Utah • Campus Voice Since 1902 www.utahstatesman.com Friday, Sept. 2,2005 Seismic Research By Katie Ashton Senior Writer While most people fear the effects earthquakes can have, one Utah State University trio spent the summer drilling into a seismically active fault zone to find Answers to what happens when the Earth begins rumbling and shaking. Geology professor Jim Evans, using his life-long interest in exhumed faults, spearheaded the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth project, which created the first subterranean earthquake observatory within in an active fault. Through months of drilling and in conjunction with team members from Texas A&M and St. Louis University, the group crossed the fault line in early August. "As it turns out, there's a lot we don't reaJJy know about how earthquakes work," Evans said. "We would like to use the understanding we get from this to better deal with earthquakes when they happen." Not to be confused with trying to predict earthquakes, Evans says this observatory center is for research and to gain a better understanding of how earthquakes work and what happens at the core of the action. This 13,082 foot-long drilling project will allow Evans and others to study core samples of material, both rock and fluid, plate movement and stress conditions under which earthquakes occur. Located in Parkfield, Calif., about half-way between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Evans spent part of his summer with two of his students, Kelly Mitchell and Sarah Draper, observing the drilling process. The drilling process is an extremely delicate one, Evans said, with a multitude of operations falling into balance. "Things can go wrong quickly," he . said. ' Spending two months of her summer in the sweltering heat, Draper said she "couldn't pass up a chance to work on the San Andreas Fault." Most of Draper's responsibilities fell into collecting samples, photographing them and updating the SAFOD Web site. "We had to keep the office running, any type of grunt work that had to get done," Draper said, adding she was surprised how interactive the lead scientists were with the interns. "The big honcho scientists guys were working alongside even the lowest guy on the totem pole." This experience not only helped Draper advance her passion for geology, but also exposed her to other cultures. Working alongside with students from around the world, Draper, a graduate student studying structural geology, said she felt a "great spirit of cooperation in this project." Mitchell echoed Draper's enthusiasm for the project. "It was a really good opportunity," said Canyon road work to continue • EARTHQUAKES V". V-'f". Jessica Alexander/jalexonder@ctusu.edu A TEMPORARY TRAFFIC light is set up at the west end of Logan Canyon to control traffic while construction crews work on the new bridges. See page 5 '• BY MARIE MACKAY Assistant News Editor UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Geology Professor Jim Evans (right) discusses some of the data with two other geologists on site. Evans, using his lifelong interest in exhumed faults, spearheaded the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth project, which created the first subterranean earthquake observatory within in an active fault. Photo courtesy USU Geology Deportment Illustration by Ryan Talbot Utah State University students may experience 10- to 15-minute traffic delays through the east or west ends of Logan Canyon this Labor Day weekend as construction crews complete two summerlong projects. On the west entrance of the canyon, roads will be restricted to one lane as the Utah Department of Transportation replaces three bridges and installs some new structures that will meet current design and safety standards. Roads on the east end of the canyon, between the canyon summit and Garden City, will be restricted to one lane as well as crews widen the road about seven miles to accommodate the addition of uphill and downhill passing lanes and the realignment of several sharp curves, according to the UDOT Web site. "The main thing is to improve the safety of the road up there," said Wendy Hansen, U.S. 89 public information manager for UDOT. "They haven't had a major project in the canyon like this for a couple of years." Students can expect these 10- to 15-minute delays to last through the end of September. Crews will still be working on the two projects throughout the winter, but delays will be minimal, if any, said Andy Neff, UDOT spokesperson. By December, UDOT plans to have all three bridges half "These safetyimprovements are directed at reducing these single-vehicle accidents." Andy Neff UDOT spokesperson constructed and both projects are scheduled to be complete by fall 2006. "We want motorists to be aware that the speed limit has been reduced to 30 miles per hour (in construction zones) and to use caution," Neff said. Over a 5-year period, from 1999 to 2004, there were over 100 accidents between the canyon summit to Garden City and 80 percent of those were single vehicle accidents, Neff said, "These safety improvements are directed at reducing these single-vehicle accidents," Neff said. Crews are also rebuilding the three 70-year-old bridges on the west end of the canyon so they meet up to current safety standards. Both projects are costing a total of $12.7 million. UDOT officials put together an extensive public information campaign at the beginning of the summer to help . • CONSTRUCTION See page 7 inform the public of canyon LJSLJ students satisfied with new Banner System BY A S H SCHILLER Staff Writer Utah State University's transition to its new administration system, Banner, has been mostly smooth with only typical new-system frustrations, said project manager Rory Weaver. The university's vendor, SCT, was no longer supporting the old system and all state universities had to adopt a new system, Weaver said. "Change can be painful and uncomfortable. Compared to the other institutions, however, Utah State University's Banner migration has been comparatively successful. USU's process has been envied," he said. Weaver predicts that everyone will be comfortable with Banner by the end of spring semester. Banner offers two big advantages over the old system. First, it offers 24-7 access, something students have been wanting for years, said Heidi Beck, associate registrar. The old system had to close nightly in order to perform downloads that are no longer necessary. Now a student or professor can log on to register or view information any time, she said. The second big advantage is Banner does not require social security numbers as logins. Rather, the system uses a random number that does not tie to any personal information, keeping students and faculty safe from identity theft, Beck said. Banner also has a much larger capacity, Weaver said. The old system could only serve 150 patrons at a time, "Compared to other institutions... Utah State University's Banner Migration has been comparatively ^ successful." Rory Weaver Banner Project Manager resulting in students sometimes getting booted off in the middle of registration. This has not happened yet on Banner. "We haven't hit the limit yet. That doesn't mean it's unlimited, but we haven't hit it yet," he said. Michelle Zimmerman, an undeclared sophomore, is a member of the A-Team and helped new students register throughout the summer. She said she likes registering with Banner better than the old system. "I like it," she said. "It doesn't kick you off and you can use the back button." The new system offers several advantages for teachers. It is Webbased rather than terminal based, so a teacher does not need to be at a specific terminal on campus to access information, Weaver said. It is also easier for teachers to obtain class lists and send mass e-mails. "It's now more of a one-stop shop for faculty and staff," said Doug Garrett, the programming team lead- er for Banner. Faculty and staff can now access all different systems in one place. Student-related business, department head business and payroll are all together now, he said. For the student, Banner makes registration easier by offering an expanded class search. Students can now search by a day, time of day or professor, Beck said. On the university level, Banner integrated into one what the old system set up as three separate parts: finance, student and human resources/payroll. Finance and student are completely functional and the human resources/ • BANNER See page 6 |